Apparatus for the continuous treatment of cloth



APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF CLOTH Filed Feb. 8, 1952 H. R. WILCOX March 27, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iwenifofl: Haflold E. Wiicox,

flifor azqy March 27, 1956 H. R. WILCOX 2,739,468

APPARATUS F OR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF CLOTH Filed Feb. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E I I I I l 70" I I I I I"!IJ fiwezzioat- I HizfloZdEWiZeoas,

March 27, 1956 H. R. WIL'COX 2, ,468

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF CLOTH Filed Feb. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hafloid B. WiZcoac,

fliiomuy March 27, 1956 R. WILCOX 2,739,468

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF CLOTH Filed Feb. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Har ow B. W fay 7&1? MM 06 HEE umm APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF CLQTH Application February s, 1952, Serial Na. 270.5% 11 Claims. (Cl. ss -a This invention relates to apparatus for the Continuous treatment of wet cloth in which the cloth is passed for treatment continuously and successively through a'series of treating units, such as tanks, and in which cloth feeding means are provided for each unit.

The object of the invention is to provide novel and efiicient means acting to synchronize the feeding opera tion to enable the continuous passage of the cloth throughout the series of units to be maintained. p p

The object of the invention is further to provide for the synchronization of the feeding means in the apparatus by an electric circuit conducted through the wet cloth between separated contacts with the circuit thus completed and interrupted by the wet clothbetween successive units moving into and out of engagement therewith.

The object of the invention is further to provide novel means for accurately controlling the tension on the cloth passing between successive units.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be defined in the claims.

The nature of the treatment of the cloth and the num- United States i Pat m her of treating units employed may vary widely. .The

cloth being treated in the apparatus may be in either rope form or in open Width. It is therefore unnecessary to illustrate or describe in any great detail the various types of apparatus in which the present invention may be embodied. The principal features of an apparatus for which the invention is suitable are, first, that there'be a series of treating units and these may be of any number these treating units must either moisten the cloth or handle previously moistened cloth so that the cloth is wetted to act by its moisture content as a conductor of electricity; second, that there be a variable speed cloth in rope form is there illustrated in considerable detail. I

The drawings herein illustrate sufiiciently for the presen purpose an apparatus such as illustrated and described in the said application with a preferred form of the present invention embodied therein and also other forms of apparatus and embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an apparatus such as shown in the aforesaid application with two treating units illustrated and with the electric controlling I adjacent unit.

ZJBQAQS Patented Mar. 27, 19 56 "ice right of Fig. 2 and also showing the stop motion mecha nism in the succeeding tank;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the stop motion mechanism shown in Fig. 3 as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of two successiveunits such as shown in Fig. 1, with another form of the invention embodied therein; I

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing portions of successive units of another form of apparatus particularly adapted for the treatment of cloth in full width and with one form of the invention embodied therein.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a series of units of a general type employed in the continuous wet treatment of cloth. The number of the series may vary "considerably in accordance with the requirements,

but usually ranges from four to nine. Since the construction of'each unit is substantially the same it is not necessary to illustrate an entire series.

Eafchiunit is shown as comprising a suitable tank 1 mounted'in a suitable framework 2 with the bottom of the tank of the usual curved form. The cloth 3, which is in this type of apparatus preferably handled in rope form, is shown entering the unit at the left of Fig. 1 passing between the feeding and squeeze rolls 4 and 5 over a driven guide roll 6 and thence down on to'the curved bottom of the tank, thence upward over a, guide roll 7, again through the squeeze rolls and repeating its path in spiral form, finally emerging from the squeeze rolls and passing to the synchronizing mechanism with which this invention is particularly concerned, and then continuing in a similar manner through the other units of the series. The roll 6 is preferably of a ribbed con struction"and it and the lower squeeze roll 5 are both driven by 'an electric motor 8, the motor by a chain 9 and, sprocket connection driving the roll 5 and the roll 6 being driven by suitable means from the roll 5. Each unit of the series is provided with a similar set of rolls and motor for driving them.

In order that the cloth shall pass continuously through the several units in sequence it is necessary to control the speed of the cloth at the various stages in. its operation. In this type of apparatus one of the motors is a. leading motor and the motors of the other units have to be synchronized therewith. This leading motor may be either that for the first unit of the series or for the last unit, or even under certain circumstances that for an intermediate unit. Consequently the speed of the cloth delivered from any one unit may regulate either the speed of the feed of that unit or the speed of the feed of the In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 it is assumed that the leading motor is that for the unit at the left and consequently that the speed of the motor feeding the cloth in the succeeding unit at the right is being regulated to conform therewith.

In the present invention the wet cloth after itleaves the first unit of a pair of units and before it enters the second unit of the pair acts to vary the speed of one of the feeding means to equalize the feed of the cloth through the. units and in the illustrated case these means act to vary the speed of the feeding means of the second unit of the pair. This control is effected by an electric circuit conducted through the wet cloth to complete the circuit and to be interrupted by the wet cloth moving from the contact.

In the preferred construction illustrated an idlervroller 20, carried by a shaft 21, is mounted to rotate freely in bearings 22 mounted on an upright frame 23 at the exit end of the tank of the-first unit, and the cloth 3 in passing from the said unit to the succeeding unit passes over this idler roller, and thence to the feeding rolls of the succeeding unit.v A pair of separated electric circuit coni arranges,

tacts are mounted beneath the idler roller adjacent the path of the cloth. As shown these contacts are in the form of horizontal bars 24 and 25. The bar 24 is mounted in brackets 26 adjustable longitudinally on arms: 27. secured to the frame 23 extending at the front ofthe idler roller and the bar is similarly mounted .in bracketsZB adjustable longitudinally on arms 29' mounted on. the frame 23 at the rear of the idler roller. A guide frame 30 at the front mounted on the frame 23 serves to direct the cloth to the idler roller 20.

The electric contacts, consisting of the bars 24'and 25, are contained in an electric circuit acting. through. suitable means when completed and interrupted to vary the speed of the motor 31, in this. case of thesecond unit. This may be done in any suitable way, but preferably as illustrated by varying the-field current ofthemotor.

One suitable arrangement for thus varying the field current of the motor is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig.

l l. The power current entering at is connected to a primary of which is in the circuit 53. The contacts .24

and 25 are connected, as shown, into the circuit .62 con taining the cathode and plate of the thyratron tube and this circuit receives its energy from the secondary 63 of a transformer the primary of which isin the circuit 64 tapped into the secondary 57 with the current rectified by the rectox 65.

It will thus be seen that with the contacts 24 and 25 open the field current for the motor flows through .the resistor 66 instead of through the primary 67 of-the transformer in the circuit 53 due to high reactance with the opensecondary. The minimum field current or maximum speed of the motor 31 is adjusted by the resistor 66. When the contacts 24 and 25 are closed the thyratron tube 59 functions, the secondary of the transformer being short circuited. current through the primary 67 of the transformer, thus strengthening the field of the motor and reducing the speed. The maximum field strength of the lower speed is adjustedby the resistor 68.

The basic feature, whatever the arrangement of the circuits and means employed may be, is that the electric ci'rcuit'for varying the speed of the motor is completed In this 'case if the speed of'the motor 31- is too fast the v cloth is pulled up against the contact bars 24 andZS-and when in contact with both thecircuit is completed through the wet cloth and the speed of the motor reduced. Then as soon as the reduction in speed causes the cloth to fall away from either one of the contacts the circuit is opened and thespeed of the motor increases to its normal amount. Thus the circuit is interrupted and completed through the wet cloth by the up and down movement of the cloth between the two units and thus the feed of the cloth through the two units equalized. The important feature is that the wet cloth. engaging the contacts acts itself as a conductor for the current by means ofits moisture content.

Thearrangement is particularly advantageous because under. normal conditionssubstantially no strainor tension need. be placed upon the cloth. it rides freely over the idler rollerand. feeds continuously and uniformly through This causes additional flow of i the apparatus being brought into and out of engagement with the contacts only as required by the variation in speed. Therei mush-of. course, be. some tensionapl'aced on the wet cloth to bring it into engagement with both contact bars and thus cause an electric circuit to be conducted through the wet cloth. Further, as hereinbefore pointed out, these bars are both vertically adjustable. The amount of tension thus placed on the cloth is adjustable by adjusting either or both of these bars. With the loop of wet cloth sagging freely there is a minimumpractically no-tension in the cloth while the tension increases as the bars are raised. This feature enables the tension in the cloth passing between successive units to be'very accurately controlled.

The unit at the right is shown as illustrated in .Figs. 3 and 4 with the means for stopping the operation of the entire-apparatus if the cloth for any reason clogs up. For this purpose the cloth isshown as entering the unit through a frame 70 connected to a side wall of the unit and brought into engagement with a bar 71 operating a microswitch 72 to stop the operation in such a case.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 and is that illustrated in the aforesaid application. .Here again a portion of two of the units is suflicient for a disclosure of the invention. .In this construction a framework is provided connecting the adjacent units and 81 having the uprights 82 and 83 and the supporting platform 84. A roll 85 is journaled at 86 and driven by a belt or chain v87 from the driven roll 88 of the first unit. A second roll 89 is journaled at 90 on the platform 84. The cloth 3 after leaving the squeeze rolls 9'1 and 92 driven by the motor 93 passes over the roll 85 and thence over the roll 89 sagging in a loop therebetween, as indicated, and then passes through the adjustable tension device 94 under the guide roll 95 to the squeeze rolls 96 and 97 driven by the motor 98 of'the second unit. It will thus be seen that as the speed of the feed varies from the normal the loop of cloth between the rolls 85 and 89 rises and falls.

The platform 84 is provided with a pair of spaced electric contacts 99 and 100 with the space between located' opposite the center of the loop of cloth. Thus when the wet cloth engages both contacts the circuit is conducted through the cloth and thus completed. When the wet cloth moves away from either contact the circuit is interrupted. These contacts are, as in the previous case, included in an electric circuit of very weak source and an electronic controlling mechanism which controls the field circuit of the motor 98. The means employed for this purpose may be the same as those already illustrat'ed in connection with Fig. 1 and are therefore indicated by reference to that figure. In this case the motor of. the second unit is assumed to be the leading motor and consequently the speed of the motor '93 must be varied as required.

Iffthen the speed of the motor 93 is relatively too great theloop of 'wet cloth sags intoengagement with the contacts 99 and 100 completing the circuit and thus momentarily reducing the speed of the motor 93. As the speed decreases the loop of cloth moves away from the contacts, the circuit is interrupted and the motor speeds up. Thus again there is a continual completing and interrupting of the circuit and the consequent maintaining of the required normal speed of the motor.

In this, as in the previous case, the circuit containing the contactsisvery weak and there is no danger of'injury to the cloth.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in a type of apparatussuch as employed for the continuous feeding of cloth in full width through successive" units of 'anrapparatus. In Fig. 6 a very simple apparatus is .shown comprisingaasportion of. two'successive units each containing aseries. of rolls=.110 and 111 over and under which the clothipasses for treatment. The unit at the lefttisprovidedat thetop with .a pairof feed rolls 11-2 and 113 driven; byamotor 114 and the one: at the-right by a similar pair of feed rolls 115 .and 116 driven by a .motor117. Inv this form. it is assumed that the motor of the'left hand unit is a leading motor and that of the right hand unit a motor the speed of which is to be regulated. An idler roller 118 is joumaled in blocks 119 mounted on arms 120 projecting from the frame 121 of the unit. Contact bars 122, which may be similar'to those already described, are mounted on'blocks 123 adjustable on bars 124 projecting forward from the frame 121 with the contact bars beneath the idler roller 118. Another idler roller 125 is mounted below the contact bars in brackets 126 on the frame 121.

The cloth 3 in open width form leads between the feed rollers 112 and 113 over the idler roller 118 around behind the idler roller 125, downunder the rollers 111, and over the rollers 110 and up through between the feed rolls 115 and 116 of the next unit. With the cloth feeding evenly through the two units it sags away from contact with both of the contact bars 122, but if the speed of the motor 117 is slightly greater than that of the motor 114, so that the cloth is brought into contact with both contact bars 122, the .electric circuit in which the contact bars are included is completed through the wet cloth, and this circuit is utilized to decrease the speed of the motor 117. This may be done by any suitable means, but preferably by the same arrangement as that described in connection with Fig. l and for that purpose reference is made in Fig. 6 to Fig. 1.

It will be seen that in the first and third forms of the invention illustrated the two contacts beneath the idler roll are mounted one adjacent the path of the cloth leading to the idler roll and the other adjacent the path of the cloth leading from the idler roll, and in each case means are provided for adjusting each contact toward and from the path of the cloth. In the first form this is secured by the adjustment of the contact bars 24 and 25 longitudinally on the respective arms 27 and 29, while in the third form this is secured by adjusting the contact bars 122 on the bars 124. This adjustment also acts to position the contact bars toward and from the idler roll.

This arrangement of the two contacts with respect to the idler roll and the path of the cloth leading thereto and therefrom, with the requirement that the circuit can only be completed through the wet cloth engaging both contacts, prevents any completion of the circuit by reason of the weight of the cloth sagging more or less in its path from the idler roll than in its path to the idler roll. Moreover the adjustment of the contacts enables the feeding tension placed upon the cloth to be controlled as described in connection with the first form. This tension obviously will vary with the distance these contacts are placed from a straight path of the cloth to and a straight path of the cloth from the idler roll.

The term cloth is employed herein for convenience but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular nature of the wet material which may be treated and handled in the apparatus.

The invention thus secures the synchronization of the feeding mechanism of the series of units so that the cloth may pass continuously and successively through the series by means controlled solely by an electric circuit completed through the wet cloth and interrupted as the wet cloth moves respectively into and out of engagement with separated contacts as the wet cloth passes from one unit to another.

Having thus described the invention, what is. claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of cloth comprising a pair of adjacent tanks, feeding means for each tank acting to feed the cloth successively and continuously through the tanks, a pair of separated contacts, an electric circuit conducted through the wet cloth when the wet cloth between the tanks moves into engagement with both of said contacts and interrupted when the wet cloth moves out of engagement with either of said contacts, and means controlled by the said circuit acting to vary the speed of one of said feeding means to equalize the feed of the cloth through both tanks.

2. 'An apparatus for thecontinuous wet treatment of cloth comprising a pair, of adjacent tanks, feeding means for each tank acting to feed the cloth continuously and successively through the tanks, a pair of spaced rolls over and between which the cloth passes between the tanks, a pair of separated contacts between and beneath the rolls, an electric circuit conducted through the wet cloth when said cloth between the rolls moves into en-' gagement with both of said contacts and interrupted when the wet cloth between the rolls moves out of engagement with either of said contacts, and means controlled by said electric circuit acting to vary the speed of one of said feeding means to equalize the feed of the cloth through both tanks. t

3. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of cloth comprising a pair of adjacent tanks, feeding means for each tank'acting to feed the clothcontinuously and successively through the tanks with the feeding means of one tank having a fixed speed and that'of the other having a variable speed, an idler roller between and above the tanks upon which the cloth rests in passing from the one to the other tank, a pair of contacts; beneath the idler roll, an electric circuit said circuit being completed through the wet cloth when the feed of the variable speed feeding means is so related to the speed of the, fixed speed feeding means as to cause the wet cloth to be drawn into position to engage both contacts, said electric circuit being interrupted when the speed of the variable speed feeding means is so related to the speed of the fixed feeding means as to cause the wet cloth to move out of engagement with either of said contacts, andlmeans controlled by said circuit acting to vary the speed of the variable speed feeding means to equalize the feed of the cloth through both tanks.

4. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of cloth comprising a pair of adjacent tanks, feeding means for each tank acting to feed the cloth continuously and successively through the tanks, an idler roller between and above the tanks upon which the cloth rests in passing from the one to the other tank, a pair of separated contacts beneath the idler roll, an electric circuit completed through the wet cloth by the feeding means of the second tank having a speed sufficiently greater than that of the feeding means of the first tank to cause the cloth to be drawn into engagement with both contacts and to be interrupted by a reduction in speed of the second feeding means causing the cloth to be released from engagement with at least one of said contacts, and means controlled by the electric circuit containing the contacts acting to vary the speed of the second feeding means to equalize the feed of the cloth through both tanks.

5. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of cloth comprising a pair of adjacent tanks, feeding means for each tank acting to feed the cloth continuously and successively through the tanks, an idler roller. between and above the tanks upon which the cloth rests in passing from the one to the other tank, a pair of separated contacts beneath the idler roll, an electric circuit completed through the wet cloth'by the feeding means of the first tank having a speed sufiiciently less than that of the feeding means of the second tank to cause the cloth to be drawn into engagement with both contacts and to be interrupted by an increase in speed of the first feeding means causing the cloth to be released from engagement with at least one of said contacts, and means controlled by the electric circuit containing the contacts acting to vary the speed of the first feeding means to equalize the feed of the cloth through both tanks.

6. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of cloth as defined in claim 3 in which the contacts beneath the idler roll are mounted the one adjacent the path of the cloth leading to the roll and the other adjacent the path of the cloth leading from the roll.

'7. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of cloth as defined in claim 3 in which the contacts beneath the idler roll are mounted the one adjacent the path of the cloth leadingtothe roll. and the other adjacent thepathof the cloth: 1'eading'from-the roll, together with means for adjustingeach Contact toward and from the path of the cloth'to" adjust the tension in the cloth.

- 8. 'An-apparatus 'for' the continuous'wet treatment of cloth: as defined in claim 3 in which the contacts beneath the idler rollare mounted the onev in front and the other in: the rear of the idler roll.

"9'. An 'apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of elothnas defined in claim 3 in which the contacts beneath th'e idler roll: are mountedthe one in front and the other in tlie rear of the idler roll, together with means for adjusting each contact toward andfrom: the idler roll to adjust the tension in the cloth.

10. An 'apparatus for'the continuous wet treatmentof clotlrcomprising a pair. of adjacent tanks, feeding means for: each tank acting to feed the. cloth successively and continuouslythrough'the tank, a pair of separated contacts, an electric circuit of sufiiciently low energy not to'injure the cloth, said electric circuit being completed through'the wet cloth when said wet cloth between the tanks moves into engagement with both ofv said contacts, said electric circuit beinginterrupted when the wet cloth between the tanks moves out of engagement with either ofsaid' contacts, means operated by power of relatively high energy for varying the speed of one of said feedingmeans, and means operated by saidcircuit acting to control the operation of said power operated means to effect the equalization of the feed of cloth through said tanks.

11. Apparatus. for the continuous wet treatment of clothrcomprisingz, a pair of. adjacent tanks, electrically driven .feedi'ng' means for each tank to feed the cloth successively and continuously through the tanks, a pair of spaced rolls over'and between which the cloth passes between tanks,.and.cont'rol' means for varying the electric power supplied to one of saidfeeding means to vary the speed thereof whereby to equalize the'feed of cloth throughboth: of said tanks, said control means comprising an electric circuit including a normally non-conducting electron? discharge'tube having at least an anode, a cathode, and a grid, a pair of spaced contacts electrically connected in' the cathode grid circuit-of said electron discharge tuhe, said: contacts being located on. opposite sides'of'oneof said rolls, said tube being rendered conductive when said spaced contacts are botherigaged by'said wet cloth and being non-conductive-so-long as said cloth is out of engagement with either one of said contacts.

References Cited in the file: o'f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,624,826 Bulley Apr. 12, 1927 2,084,189 Bulford June 15, 1937 2,193,189 Brooke et-al. Mar. 12, 1940 2,296,488 Anderson Sept. 22, 1942 2,393,015 Bendz Ian. 15, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 598,311 Germany June 8, 1934 103,984 Australia June 2,v 193'8 

